







































 

 

 
97 

© 2021 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

COCONUT GROWERS’ KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTION AND ADOPTION ON IMPACTS 
OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN GAMPAHA AND PUTTALAM DISTRICTS IN SRI LANKA: 
AN INDEX-BASED APPROACH   

 

 

 Ruvani Subhathma 
Wickramarathna 
Godage1+ 

 Bandara 
Gajanayake2 

 Udith K. 
Jayasinghe-Mudalige3 

 

1Technology Transfer Officer, Technology Transfer Division, Coconut 
Research Institute, Bandirippuwa Estate, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka. 
Email: ruvanigodage@gmail.com Tel: +94771464744 
2Professor, Department of Plantation Management, Faculty of Agriculture 
and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, 
Makandura, Gonawila, Sri Lanka. 
Email: gajawyb@yahoo.com Tel: +94766255959 
3Senior Professor, Department of Agribusiness Management, Faculty of 
Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri 
Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila, Sri Lanka. 
Email: udith@wyb.ac.lk Tel: +94(71/77)362 8911  

 
(+ Corresponding author) 

 ABSTRACT 
 
Article History 
Received: 2 July 2021 
Revised: 6 August 2021 
Accepted: 30 August 2021 

Published: 21 September 2021  
 

Keywords 
Coconut 
Coconut growers 
Adoption 
Climate change 
Index 
Knowledge gap 
Perception. 

 
Climate change and food security are critical topics in sustainable agricultural 
development. Climate change is expected to have serious environmental, economic and 
social impacts on Sri Lanka. Coconut growers’ knowledge, perception level and 
adoption for climate change adaptation measures have influenced productivity of the 
coconut cultivation. The study investigated the coconut growers’ knowledge gap, 
knowledge and perception levels regarding impacts of climate change in Gampaha and 
Puttalam districts. Further, this study investigated their adoption of different 
adaptation measures. A stratified random sampling technique was applied for selecting 
240 respondents from two different districts. Structured questionnaire and interview 
schedule were used to elicit information from the respondents and data was analyzed 
with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Adoption rate of the climate change 
adaptation measures is significantly influenced by coconut growers’ knowledge and 
perception level at varying degrees. The study revealed that most of the growers in two 
study areas have better knowledge (> 70%) and perceptions (>60%) regarding the 
gradual changes in the climate and its impact on their coconut cultivation. However, 
their adaptation behavior is fairly poor (< 50%) in both districts. Hence government 
policies should more focused on to coconut growers to have access to affordable credit 
to increase their ability and flexibility to change adaptation strategies in response to the 
changing climatic conditions. Increasing growers’ access to agricultural extension 
services and access to information on weather forecasting are very important. In 
addition, government should improve and promote off-farm income-earning 
opportunities during dry seasons.  
 

Contribution/Originality: This study is one of the very few studies which use novel index-based approach to 

investigate coconut growers’ knowledge, perception and adoption on impacts of climate change in Gampaha and 

Puttalam districts. 
 

1. INTRODUCTION 

Agriculture is the main supportive source for the majority of the rural livelihoods in Sri Lanka. While climate 

change is a global phenomenon, it is expected to have serious environmental, economic and social impacts to Sri 

Lanka and its impact on agriculture sector is very high. Agriculture and food security are of serious concerns under 

Current Research in Agricultural Sciences 
2021 Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 97-109. 
ISSN(e): 2312-6418 
ISSN(p): 2313-3716 
DOI: 10.18488/journal.68.2021.82.97.109 
© 2021 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8541-8323
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6798-5332
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1806-6273
mailto:ruvanigodage@gmail.com
mailto:gajawyb@yahoo.com
mailto:udith@wyb.ac.lk
https://www.doi.org/10.18488/journal.68.2021.82.97.109


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impact of climate variability pressures. Rahman and Begum [1] and Chen, et al. [2] stated that an increase in 

intensity and frequency of extreme weather events and climate variability have raised broad concerns over global 

climatic changes since they affected human livelihood activities and strategies. And also, Sharma, et al. [3] stated 

that rainfall and temperature are the major hydrology climatic variables often used for characterization of climate 

change and variability. Furthermore, FAO [4] and World Bank [5] collaboratively emphasized that rainfall 

variability and other climatic risks account for a significant share of agricultural production decline in developing 

countries. In Sri Lanka, agriculture sector contributes about 7.0 % of national GDP [6]. 

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is one of the most important plantation crop in Sri Lanka. It spreads over 400,000 ha 

of land area in all administrative districts of Sri Lanka except those at the elevations beyond 750 m amsl [7, 8]. The 

annual nut production was 3086 million in 2019 [9]. Coconut industry generates employment for nearly 500,000 

people and contributing to nearly 0.6% of gross domestic production and 3.9% of foreign exchange earnings [6]. It 

is cultivated in all three agro-climatic zones of Sri Lanka as 30% in the wet zone, 50% in the intermediate zone and 

20% in the dry zone. Being a rain-fed crop, rainfall and temperature are the important climatic factors influencing 

coconut yield [10, 11]. Coconut performs well under a mean annual temperature between 27°C – 29°C and mean 

annual rainfall of 1250-2500 mm/year [12]. The main coconut growing area consists of three administrative 

districts within the “Coconut Triangle”: Kurunegala, Puttalam and Gampaha.  

Since growers are the managers and ultimate users of a country’s agro-biodiversity and resources, growers’ 

involvement in assessing climate change and its impacts is vital. It is important to understand coconut growers’ 

knowledge and perceptions regarding climate change, as growers must first perceive and have knowledge of the 

causes for the changes in climate and their impact on coconut in order to effectively adapt and have the motivation 

to do so. Coconut growers’ perception of the impacts of climate change, is a prerequisite for the practice of 

adaptation measures. 

Adaptation is important to address the adverse impacts of climate risks. Food security can be increased with 

adaptation [13-16]. Adaptation refers to adjustments in human–environmental systems in response to observed or 

expected changes in climatic stimuli [17, 18]. Adaptation to climate change requires the farmers’ first notice of the 

change in climate, and then identification of useful adaptations and implementation of them [19]. This study 

investigates the differences in coconut growers’ knowledge level, perception level and ability to implement 

adaptation measures in Gampaha and Puttalam districts. Hence it is expected that their knowledge index, 

perception index and adoption index will vary based on the personal view and the social impact of the surrounding 

environment.  

 

2. METHODOLOGY 

2.1. Study Area 

The study was conducted in Gampaha and Puttalam districts, which were considered as two major areas 

belongs to coconut triangle. When considering the Gampaha district, it lies approximately between longitude 80° 0' 

51.7176'' E and latitude 7° 5' 14.3160'' N. This region made up of 13 Divisional Secretarial divisions (Figure 1) and 

26 Agrarian Service divisions. It was in Western province and composed of two main Agro Ecological Zones as 

Low country Wet Zone (WL) and Low country Intermediate Zone (IL). The mean annual rain fall was 2580 mm, 

which varies from 2300 mm to 2800 mm and the mean annual temperature was 28°C, which varies from 26°C to 

30°C. Whereas, Puttalam district which lies approximately between longitude 79° 49' 41.88" E and latitude 8° 02' 

10.32" N is made up of 16 Divisional Secretarial divisions (Figure 2) and 18 Agrarian Service divisions. It was in 

North Western province and composed of two main Agro Ecological Zones as Low country Intermediate (IL1, IL3) 

and Low country Dry (DL1, DL3). The mean annual rain fall was 1300 mm, which varies from 1200 mm to 1600 

mm and the mean annual temperature was 30.5°C, which varies from 29° C to 32° C. Relative to Gampaha district, 

temperature is generally high and annual rainfall is very low in this region. 



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Figure-1. Map of Gampaha District indicating Divisional Secretarial Divisions. 

 



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Figure-2. Map of Puttalam District indicating Divisional Secretarial Divisions. 

 



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2.2. Sampling Procedure and Sample 

As this study was conducted in Gampaha and Puttalam districts, the study sample comprised of 100 coconut 

growers from Gampaha and 140 coconut growers from Puttalam, which were selected according to stratified 

random sampling method throughout the respective districts. The heads of the selected households or their spouses 

were interviewed using both 10-point Likert scale type and semi-structured questionnaire and group discussions 

were done with randomly selected group of coconut growers in selected districts. In this study, selected 

psychological object was “impacts of climate change on coconut”. Therefore, coconut growers were interviewed 

with using 10-point Likert scale questionnaire and the scale was designed to administer coconut growers’ 

knowledge, perception and adoption on impacts of climate change in Gampaha and Puttalam districts. In addition, 

semi structured questions were used to elicit information on coconut growers’ socio demographic profile. 

Likert scale is widely used in behavioral researches. It will help researchers to develop correct scales to measure 

knowledge, perception and adoption. A Likert item is simply a statement where respondents evaluate a quantitative 

value on any kind of subjective or objective agreement/disagreement. Well-designed Likert items exhibit 

“symmetry” in that they contain equal numbers of positive and negative positions whose respective distances apart 

are bilaterally symmetric about the “neutral”/zero value [20].  

Data collected were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentages, mean, standard 

deviation and knowledge, perception and adoption indexes and analyzed using SPSS (version 23).  

 

2.3. Knowledge Gap and overall Knowledge Index (KI)  

Knowledge gap states the difference between the climate change dimensions and the knowledge on the same 

possessed by coconut growers. To calculate the knowledge gap of coconut growers, a list of climate change 

dimensions were compiled during survey conducted in each research areas in Gampaha and Puttalam districts. In 

determining knowledge gap, climate change dimension wise score was assigned 0 to 10 in the knowledge test. 

Overall score of 16 questions was 160 and each question carried 10 scores. The difference between obtainable score 

and obtained score indicated the knowledge gap of the coconut growers. This deviation was then expressed in 

percentage as the proportion to the grower’s maximum possible score [21, 22].  

The Knowledge Gap Index was computed as; 

 

Where, 

KGI = Knowledge Gap Index. 

Kp = Maximum possible score of a coconut grower. 

Ko = Obtained knowledge score by a coconut grower. 

 

The value of knowledge gap index was lied between 0 and 100. The value of index closer to zero indicated the 

lower knowledge gap, while that closer to 100 indicated the larger knowledge gap. 

Coconut growers’ knowledge level was measured by using 16 statements. Each climate change dimension was 

measured independently, and an overall knowledge was calculated through the knowledge index [23].  

 

The value of knowledge index was lied between 0 and 100. The value of index closer to zero indicated the 

lower level of knowledge about impacts of climate change, while that closer to 100 indicated the larger level of 

knowledge. 



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2.4. Perception Index (PI) 

Coconut growers’ perception level was measured by using 31 statements. 

 
The value of perception index was lied between 0 and 100. The value of index closer to zero indicated the lower 

level of perception about impacts of climate change, while that closer to 100 indicated the larger level of perception. 

 

2.5. Adoption Index (AI) 

Adoption is an aggregation of adoption of different dimensions of adaptation strategies to overcome the 

impacts of climate change in coconut cultivation. For this study, an index was constructed for each district based on 

available data from coconut growers. This district-wise adoption index would be used in the identification of the 

districts that require intervention to change the pattern of adoption. Coconut growers’ adoption level was measured 

by using 14 statements. 

 

Finally, it will be represented as percentage. The value of status index was non-negative and lied between 0 

and 100. The value of index closer to zero indicated the lower level of adoption, while that closer to 100 indicated 

the higher level of adoption.  

 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

3.1. Socioeconomic Characteristics of Respondents in Gampaha and Puttalam Districts 

Results in Table 1 shows some socioeconomic characteristics of coconut growers measured in the two study 

areas of Gampaha and Puttalam districts. The results reveal that the majority of coconut growers in both districts 

were in “> 50” year age category. It was 65% in Gampaha district followed by 57.86% in Puttalam district. Most of 

them (80% in Gampaha and 85.71% in Puttalam) were male more than female, which may be due to the socio-

cultural structure of the country and majority (92% in Gampaha and 99.28% in Puttalam) of them are married in 

both districts. It is evident that majority (55%) of the growers’ in Gampaha district having 4-5 family members in 

their families followed by 62.86% in Puttalam district having 2-3 family members in their families. The distribution 

of growers’ education level shows that majority of the growers in both districts (43% in Gampaha and 55% in 

Puttalam) had education up to G.C.E. (A/L). As regards land holding, 72% of the growers in Gampaha and 80.71% 

in Puttalam were having “2-25Ac” land category and in terms of farming experience, about 43% of growers in 

Gampaha had more than 30 years of farming experience followed by 59.28% in Puttalam had about 5-10 years 

farming experience. Further, majority of the growers in both districts (92% in Gampaha and 97.86% in Puttalam) 

reported that land ownership as their own. 

 

3.2. Coconut Growers’ Knowledge Level on Impacts of Climate Change 

Results in Table 2 shows that the coconut growers’ level of knowledge and gap on impacts of climate change 

on coconut cultivation in two different districts. Sixteen climate change dimensions were identified and believed to 

be understand by coconut growers as they are the most influential factors for cause climate change. Findings shows 

that, majority of the coconut growers in both districts had lower knowledge gap index (KGI) under climate change 

dimensions as “Human activities are the leading form for climate change” (8% for Gampaha and 11.36% for 

Puttalam) and “Deforestation has a big impact on increase in temperature” (8% for Gampaha and 9.93% for 

Puttalam). 



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Table-1. Distribution of respondents by socioeconomic characteristics (n=240). 

No Variables Group Gampaha District (n= 100) Puttalam District (n= 140) 

 Frequency Percentage (%) Frequency Percentage (%) 

1 Age (Years) < 30 02 02 0 0 
  30 – 40 12 12 04 2.86 
  40 – 50 21 21 55 39.28 
  >50 65 65 81 57.86 

2 Gender Male 80 80 120 85.71 
  Female 20 20 20 14.29 

3 Marital Status Single 08 08 01 0.71 
  Married 92 92 139 99.28 

3 Landholding 
(Acres) 

<2Ac 20 20 0 0 

  2-25Ac 72 72 113 80.71 
  25-50Ac 7 7 25 17.86 
  50-100Ac 1 1 2 1.43 
  >100Ac 0 0 0 0 

4 Family Size 2-3 37 37 88 62.86 
  4-5 55 55 46 32.86 
  6-7 6 6 6 4.28 
  >7 2 2 0  

5 Education Up to Grade 5 1 1 0 0 
  Up to Grade 8 3 3 7 5 
  Up to O/L 24 24 32 22.86 
  Up to A/L 43 43 77 55 
  Diploma/Gra

duate 
29 29 24 17.14 

6 Farming 
Experience 

(Years) 

<5 3 3 1 0.71 

  5-10 21 21 83 59.28 
  11-20 16 16 45 32.14 
  21-30 17 17 5 3.57 
  >30 43 43 6 4.28 

7 Land 
Ownership 

Own 92 92 137 97.86 

  Common 7 7 2 1.43 
  Rent/Tenant 1 1 1 0.71 

 

Further, results revealed that, most of the coconut growers in two districts believe that they are currently 

experiencing the impacts of climate change, which was proved by having 8.9% of KGI from Gampaha and 13.57% of 

KGI from Puttalam. The study revealed that coconut growers in Gampaha district had 82.74% of knowledge index 

(KI) while 73.37% KI in Puttalam. Results show that respondents in Gampaha district had 11.6% KGI for climate 

change dimension of “There is a change in regular temperature variation pattern throughout the year than early 

years” while it was 18.5% in Puttalam district. In addition, findings showed that respondents in Gampaha district 

had lower KGI for all climate change dimensions with compared to KG indices in Puttalam district.  

 

3.3. Coconut Growers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Variability 

The findings from the coconut growers’ perceptions regarding changes and impacts of climate change are 

presented in Table 3. The results revealed that majority of the growers in these two districts are experiencing 

aberrations in the climate as they have been farming within the region for many years. Most of the growers (nearly 

80% and above) in two districts perceived increase in atmospheric temperature and fluctuations in rainfall during 

the past ten years. 

 

 



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Table-2. Distribution of coconut growers by Knowledge Gap in Gampaha and Puttalam. 

No. Climate change dimensions KG Index (%) 
[Gampaha 
District] 
(N = 100) 

KG Index (%) 
[Puttalam 
District] 
(N = 140) 

1 Change in regular temperature variation pattern throughout the 
year than early years 

11.6 18.5 

2 Change in regular rainfall pattern than early years 13.3 18.71 
3 Climate change causes rise in sea levels 25.1 37.5 
4 Climate change causes changes in wind velocity and wind 

directions 
25.4 41.3 

5 Climate change leads to coastal erosion 22.3 33.43 
6 Climate change causes increase in intensity of extreme weather 

events (ex: heat waves, tornadoes, cyclones, heavy rainfalls) 
20.5 34.43 

7 Human activities are the leading form for climate change 8 11.36 
8 Burning vehicle fuels, oil and gases cause for air pollution and 

increase in atmospheric temperature 
8.7 18.21 

9 Green-house gas emissions have a greater impact on climate 
change  

27 37.5 

10 Green-house gas emission causes boost in temperature 26.2 36.71 
11 Deforestation has a big impact on increase in temperature 8 9.93 
12 Heavy use of fertilizers (specially N containing fertilizers) causes 

for climate change 
27.6 44.71 

13 Increased population growth has an effect on climate change 17.9 25.36 
14 Rapid urbanization and changes in life style have an effect on 

climate change 
15 24 

15 Currently experiencing the impacts of climate change 8.9 13.57 
16 Climate change is a threat to sustainable development? 10.7 20.86 

Note: Coconut growers’ overall Knowledge Index (KI) on climate change in Gampaha district is 82.74% and the same in Puttalam district is 73.37%. 

 

Out of the total respondents, 86.1% and 73% perceived north-east (NEM) and south-west monsoon (SWM) 

seasons were not starting at correct time over the last 5 years in Gampaha and Puttalam districts respectively. 

Differences in perception index indicates that growers who are in Gampaha district more likely to perceive a 

fluctuation (increase/ decrease) in amount of rainfall over the last 5 years (89.2%) compared to those in Puttalam 

(76.6%) and longer dry periods and short rainy periods over the last 5 years (89%) compared to those in Puttalam 

(75.3%). Besides to perceiving the fluctuations and length of rainfall in the studied area, almost 85% in Gampaha 

and 70.3% in Puttalam, growers believed that inter monsoonal rains were not starting at correct time over the last 

5 years, respectively. In addition, growers in Gampaha district had higher perception index (80.4%) for increase in 

run off over the last 5 years than growers in Puttalam district (64.2%). This fluctuation in amount of rainfall, and 

unreliability of raining time impede the agricultural planning that attracts appropriate adaptation strategies. 

Furthermore, growers in Gampaha district had perceived that there is no any harmful effects to coconut 

cultivation over the past 10 years due to droughts conditions (28.8%), there is no any  impact of droughts on 

livelihood and household over the past 10 years (24.3%), there is no any   impact of floods on coconut cultivation 

over the past 10 years (44.5%) and there is no any impact of floods on livelihood and household over the past 10 

years (32.9%) with compared to growers in Puttalam district as 6.1%, 5.7%, 59.4% and 53.8% respectively. 

According to the results in Table 3, respondents in Gampaha had 81 percent perception index for “increase in 

drought conditions in different agro-ecological regions over the last 10 years” and 63 percent in Puttalam; as well 

as 84.6 percent perception index was obtained by respondents in Gampaha for “climate change influences 

agricultural yields negatively” while it was 77.3 percent in Puttalam. However, very low level of perception index 

was obtained by Gampaha (20.5%) and Puttalam (6.1%) districts respondents for “believe of climate change has no 

any serious cause for economic depression to our country”. Moreover, coconut growers in both districts had more 

than 75% perception index for “believe of climate change poses threats to food security” and almost 85% perception 

index for “agreeing and feeling that climate change is really happening”. 



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Table-3. Coconut growers’ level of perception on the impacts of climate change and its variability. 

No. Climate Change Dimensions 
(General) 

Perception 
Index (%) 
[Gampaha 
District] 
(N=100) 

Perception Index 
(%) 

[Puttalam 
District] 
(N=140) 

1 I think that climate change is more harmful than beneficial,  in general 86.5 76.3 
2 I feel that the atmospheric temperature has been increasing over the past 

10 years 
90.2 80.6 

3 I have noticed that change in rainfall over the past 10 years 98.1 79.8 
4 I have noticed that increase in heavy rains over the last 5 years 82 71.5 
5 I have noticed that change in rainfall seasonality over the last 5 years 90.1 77.4 
6 I have noticed that  fluctuation (increase/ decrease)  in amount of rainfall 

over the last 5 years 
89.2 76.6 

7 I have noticed that longer dry periods and short rainy periods over the last 
5 years 

89 75.3 

8 I  have noticed that NEM and SWM monsoon seasons were not starting 
at correct time over the last 5 years 

86.1 73.0 

9 I have noticed that the  inter monsoonal  rains were not starting at correct 
time over the last 5 years 

85 70.3 

10 I have noticed that the increase in run off over the last 5 years 80.4 64.2 
11 I feel that there is no any harmful effects to  coconut cultivation over the 

past 10 years  due to droughts conditions 
28.8 6.1 

12 I feel that there is no any  impact of droughts on livelihood and household 
over the past 10 years 

24.3 5.7 

13 I feel that there is no any  impact of floods on coconut cultivation over the 
past 10 years 

44.5 59.4 

14 I feel that there is no any  impact of floods on livelihood and household 
over the past 10 years 

32.9 53.8 

15 I have noticed that  increase in drought conditions in different agro-
ecological regions over the last 10 years 

81 63.0 

16 I have noticed that  climate change influences agricultural yields 
negatively 

84.6 77.3 

17 However I believe that climate change has no any serious cause for 
economic depression to our country 

20.5 6.1 

18 I believe that climate change poses threats to food security 81.1 76.1 
19 I feel that climate change is really happening 86.1 84.8 
 Climate Change Dimensions (On coconut) 
20 I have noticed that decline in coconut yield during last 5-10 years in my 

estate 
81.4 73.8 

21 I have noticed that yellowing and drooping of more number of coconut 
fronds during dry periods 

83.9 73.8 

22 I have noticed that wilting and drying of more number of coconut fronds 
during dry periods 

83.3 70.8 

23 I have noticed that inflorescence abortion during dry periods over the last 
5 years 

73.5 37.8 

24 I have noticed that falling of more number of button nuts during dry 
periods over the last 5 years 

83.7 72.8 

25 I have noticed that lowering of the ground water level in my estate over 
the last 5 - 10 years 

80.6 72.0 

26 I have noticed that changing fertilizer type into organic may help to 
reduce effects of climate change 

72.4 62.7 

27 I have noticed that there is no any effect to intercropping under coconut 
due to climate change over the last 5-10 years 

80 60.8 

28 I have noticed any increase of pest and disease infestations on coconut 
during last 5 years due to climate change 

82.3 69.3 

29 I have noticed that any increase of pest and disease infestations on other 
agricultural crops during last 5 years due to climate change 

79.1 56.7 

30 I have exposed to mass media about climate change 78.1 62.8 
31 I have access to social capital (farm-to-farm extension and the no. of 

relatives in the village) 
78.2 69.1 

Note: Coconut growers’ overall Perception Index (PI) on impacts of climate change in Gampaha district is 74.46% and the same in Puttalam district is 62.06%. 

 

3.4. Coconut Growers’ Perceptions of Climate Change Dimensions on Coconut  

Generally, the majority of coconut growers are aware about the presence of climate change and variability. 

They revealed that their local experience of climate change and variations, using variability in onset and cessation 



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time of the rainy season, fluctuation (increase/ decrease) in amount of rainfall over the last 5 years, longer dry 

periods and short rainy periods over the last 5 years, increase of atmospheric temperature and etc. Moreover, 81.4% 

of perception index had obtained by coconut growers in Gampaha for “decline in coconut yield during last 5-10 

years in their estates” while it was 73.8% in Puttalam. In addition, higher perception indices were noticed from 

growers in Gampaha for yellowing and drooping of more number of coconut fronds during dry periods (83.9%), 

wilting and drying of more number of coconut fronds during dry periods (83.3%), inflorescence abortion during dry 

periods over the last 5 years (73.5%), falling of more number of button nuts during dry periods over the last 5 years 

(83.7%), death of more number of palms during dry periods over the last 5 years (65.8%) with compared to growers 

in Puttalam as 73.8%, 70.8%, 37.8%,72.8% and 25.7% respectively. And also results in Table 3 indicated that 

Gampaha district had shown high perception indices for lowering of the ground water level in their estates over the 

last 5 - 10 years (80.6%), changing fertilizer type into organic may help to reduce effects of climate change (72.4%), 

there is no any effect to intercropping under coconut due to climate change over the last 5-10 years (80%), any 

increase of pest and disease infestations on coconut during last 5 years due to climate change (82.3%), any increase 

of pest and disease infestations on other agricultural crops during last 5 years due to climate change (79.1%) with 

compared to Puttalam district such as 72%, 62.7%, 60.8%, 69.3% and 56.7% respectively. At last, growers in 

Gampaha had 78.1% perception index for exposure to mass media about climate change while Puttalam had 62.8% 

and 78.2% and 69.1% perception index for access of social capital (farm-to-farm extension and the no. of relatives in 

the village) for growers in Gampaha and Puttalam districts respectively. 

 
Table-4. Coconut growers’ level of adoption on the impacts of climate change. 

No. Adaptation Measure Adoption Index 
(%) [Gampaha 

District] 
(N = 100) 

Adoption Index 
(%) [Puttalam 

District] 
(N = 140) 

1 Practice rain water harvesting methods in the estate 47.8 37.64 
2 Construct an irrigation well in the estate 30 15.79 
3 Apply moisture conservation methods in the estate 74.2 74.93 
4 Practice soil conservation methods in the estate 72.1 29.07 
5 Use of  horse/sprinkler/drip  irrigation system during dry 

periods 
18.2 62.57 

6 Use of  tube wells 9 54.07 
7 Practice manual watering during dry periods 37.6 18.64 
8 Practice making agro forestry system to reduce temperature 

in the estate 
42.1 49.0 

9 Plant drought tolerant varieties 45.1 55.21 
10 Access to agricultural extension services provided for 

coconut, intercropping and livestock production 
76.3 59.14 

11 Access of information on weather forecasting 64.2 35.5 
12 Go for off-farm occupation during dry seasons 7.7 2.71 
13 Practice planting at the onset of rainy seasons 90.6 97.07 
14 Apply organic manure to improve the soil conditions 78.7 63.71 

Note: Coconut growers’ overall Adoption Index (AI) on impacts of climate change in Gampaha district is 49.54% and the same in Puttalam district is 46.79%. 

 

3.5. Coconut Growers’ Adoption Level on Impact of Climate Change  

The results in Table 4 indicated that coconut growers in Puttalam district had 97.07% adoption index for 

‘Practice planting at the onset of rainy seasons” while growers in Gampaha district had 90.6%. As evident from the 

results, majority of the growers in Puttalam district had slightly higher adoption index (74.93%) for apply moisture 

conservation methods in their estates than Gampaha district (74.2%). Further, respondents in Gampaha district had 

78.7% adoption index for apply organic manure to improve the soil conditions whereas it was 63.71% in Puttalam 

district. In addition, respondents in Gampaha district had high adoption indices for access to agricultural extension 

services provided for coconut, intercropping and livestock production (76.3%), access of information on weather 

forecasting (64.2%), currently practicing soil conservation methods (72.1%),currently practicing rain water 



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harvesting methods (47.8%), practice manual watering during dry periods (37.6%), construct irrigation wells in 

their estates (30%) while respondents in Puttalam district had 59.14%, 35.5%, 29.07%, 37.64%, 18.64% and 15.79% 

adoption indices respectively. However, growers in Puttalam had high adoption indices for use of 

horse/sprinkler/drip irrigation system during dry periods (62.57%), use of tube wells (54.07%), plant drought 

tolerant varieties (55.21%) and practice making agro-forestry system to reduce temperature in the estate (49.0%) 

than growers in Gampaha district. 

 

4. CONCLUSION 

Changing climate and its impacts remain a major problem in the field of agriculture. Hence the same obstacle is 

arising for the coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study focused to investigate the indices on 

knowledge, perception and adoption on impacts of climate change among coconut growers’ for Gampaha and 

Puttalam districts. The findings showed that the overall indices for knowledge were 82.74% for Gampaha and 

73.37% for Puttalam. The overall perception indices were 74.46% and 62.06% for both districts respectively. 

Finally, overall adoption indices of both Gampaha and Puttalam districts were 49.54% and 46.79% respectively. 

Further, coconut growers’ knowledge, perceptions and adoption measures on impacts of climate change in two 

study areas, show that most of the growers have better knowledge (> 70%) and perceptions (>60%) regarding the 

gradual changes in the climate and its impact on their coconut cultivation. However, their adaptation behavior is 

fairly poor (< 50%) in both districts. Therefore, this research has brought out the usefulness of both studies on 

growers’ knowledge level and studies on growers’ perception level. Combining both data sources together inform 

debates on the need for more inclusive adaptation and development policies on climate change.  A number of 

coconut growers in the study areas are aware of the increasing temperature trend, the late onset of rains, fluctuation 

in rainfall pattern / amount and the increasing drought frequency. 

This study shows that even though coconut growers’ behaviour may be influenced by their values and interests, 

their awareness of weather and climate may also be considered as a consistent indicator of their perception. For that 

reason, growers observe the local climatic conditions and respond through decisions on their coconut cultivations 

and adaptation to climate change according to what they perceive. 

The study findings showed that, majority of the coconut growers in both districts had lower knowledge gap 

index (KGI) under climate change dimensions as “Human activities are the leading form for climate change” (8% for 

Gampaha and 11.36% for Puttalam) and “Deforestation has a big impact on increase in temperature?” (8% for 

Gampaha and 9.93% for Puttalam). Further, study revealed that coconut growers in Gampaha district had 82.74% 

of knowledge index (KI) while 73.37% KI in Puttalam. The study results revealed that majority of the growers in 

these two districts are experiencing aberrations in the climate as they have been farming within the region for many 

years. Most of the growers (nearly 80% and above) in two districts perceived increase in atmospheric temperature 

and fluctuations in rainfall during the past ten years. Finally, the results indicated that coconut growers in Puttalam 

district had 97.07% adoption index for ‘Practice planting at the onset of rainy seasons” while growers in Gampaha 

district had 90.6%. Although coconut growers in two districts are well aware of climatic changes and its impacts, 

only few seems to take steps to adjust their farming activities. Government policies should therefore ensure that 

coconut growers have access to affordable credit to increase their ability and flexibility to change adaptation 

strategies in response to the changing climatic conditions. Because access to water for irrigation increases the 

resilience of impact of climate change and variability, and irrigation investment needs should be reconsidered to 

allow growers to increase water control to counteract adverse impacts from climate change and variability. More 

importantly, increasing growers’ access to agricultural extension services and access to information on weather 

forecasting are of great need. Furthermore, government should improve and promote off-farm income-earning 

opportunities during dry seasons. 

 



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Funding: This study was carried out with the financial support from Department of Plantation 
Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura. 
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.  
Acknowledgement: The authors wish to thank Coconut Research Institute for giving 
approval to carry out this research program and coconut growers for their collaboration in 
interview and Regional Managers and Coconut Development Officers attached to major 
coconut growing regions in Coconut Cultivation Board for providing their fullest cooperation 
to success this project. 

 

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